Clarion - 5. Chapter 5

I’m an early riser and don't normally need an alarm.The noise from the street usually wakes me. I got up not disturbing Cody and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. While I was waiting for the coffee to finish, I took out the photos that Charles sent me. I was so absorbed in the pictures, I didn’t hear Cody coming into the kitchen.

"What are you looking at?"

I jumped when I heard his voice, he laughed as he poured a cup of coffee for me and himself.

"You scared me. I didn't hear you come in, I was totally engrossed in these photos."

"What photos are those?"

"Do you remember me telling you that I was considering moving to the country and I was thinking about Clarion?"

"Yes, I remember you vaguely mentioning that."

"Well, before I left for Europe, I bought some land and hired an architect to design and build my new home. He sent me the photos and I was looking at them."

"May I look at them?"

"Sure, you might be living there."

I began showing Cody the photos. Starting with the land and then taking him through the various construction stages until the last photo which represented the completed house on the outside, but there was still work to do on the inside. Cody was impressed and really liked the house, especially facing the Clarion River.

Smiling, “I could see myself living there with you. I could go fishing in that river. I bet there're trout in that river."

I smiled to see his reaction. Our stomachs growled in sync, so I started to make breakfast. I made oatmeal with dried fruit and nuts, a small glass of orange juice and another cup of coffee. After eating, we decided to shower, shave, brush our teeth and get ready to take in New York. I wanted an idea of the cost of kitchen appliances. I knew I wanted a Viking gas range and a Cold-spot refrigerator. I’ll also need a dishwasher, laundry washer and dryer, and a freezer for the pantry. I mentioned this to Cody and he was all for it. "After all, if I'm going to be living there, I should have some say."

I gave him a kiss and headed to the bedroom to get dressed. Dressed for a cool New York, we left the apartment and headed in the direction of Macy's. I took a small note pad that I put in my pocket. I wanted to be able to compare prices but also give Cody a copy, he could check out the prices in Philadelphia. It was fun to do this together.

The week-end went too fast. We took a taxi to Penn Station so Cody could go home as he had a run to make the next morning. We made an agreement, we’d talk each morning and evening until he could join me in New York

The next two weeks seemed to fly by. Robert made the announcement that I was going into semi- retirement and being elected to the Board. He also announced my replacement, I was glad it was Brad Collins. Cody spent his breaks with me and things couldn't have been better. Our sex life was limited to what we did the first time he spent the night. We did go and get tested and committed to do it again in 3 months to be sure we were free of all STD’s, as well as HIV. I contacted a realtor in the City and put my apartment on the market furnished. I told the realtor if the new buyers didn't want the furniture, to give it to a charity. Cody said he’d help me pack what I wanted to take with me and on the next trip he took to Chicago would take them to Clarion. I packed my suitcase, closed out all of my bank accounts and contacted my broker, giving him my new address. I stopped by the office giving Robert my new address and made sure that Brad knew if he had any questions, I’d be glad to help.

With all of that done, I called Cody and told him I was leaving for Clarion and to let me know when he’d be at the diner. I called Charles to tell him I was heading to my new home and would let him know when I arrived. He told me I had to stop at the realtors to pick up the keys. "All of the furniture you selected is in place. The kitchen is done according to your plans. Mr. Haas is waiting for you before he delivers your dining set and wants to discuss your kitchen cabinets.”

I started the car and headed north to I-80 and west to Clarion. If someone could see me, they would think I was crazy, my smile never left my face. I was like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus.

After driving for 5 hours, I finally saw the road sign for Clarion. I drove to the diner, had a late lunch and then headed to Paul Martin's office to pick up the keys. When I walked into his office, he was talking to another client so I sat in a chair and waited for him to finish. When he looked up and saw me, “Speaking of the devil. There’s the new owner now."

"Mr. Bradley, this is John Ashley. He owns some property on the same mountain as you."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Ashley. I guess in a way we’re neighbors."

“Well, I’m glad to meet the man who has that magnificent house overlooking the River. I don't know who designed that house for you, but they did a great job. The whole town has driven past the house just to see it. Old Noah did an excellent job. Since we’re neighbors, of a sort, call me John. We don't usually use last names much being a small town."

"Well, in that case call me Alan. Perhaps after I get settled you can show me some good fishing spots."

John laughed, "The best spot is right in front of your house."

Picking up my keys, saying good bye to Paul and John, I headed to my new home. Cody called and said he would meet me at the diner tomorrow morning on his way back from Chicago. I drove to my new home. You could see it from the road before you crossed over the Clarion River bridge. I had to stop and admire it. To me, it was the most beautiful site in the world.

Driving along the new road and approaching the garage, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I stopped in front of the garage, unlocked the overhead door and opened the door. The garage was huge. Two cars could fit in, one behind the other. On the side facing the hill, a large shelf had been built with a ladder that could slide along the shelf. The area of the shelf was almost as large as my kitchen in my old apartment.

Parking the car in the garage, I decided to explore my new home. The garage door led to a small hall with steps going down onto the first floor. To the right, the hall led to the bedrooms. The master bedroom was at the end of the hall. As I entered, I realize it was enormous. The windows looked out to a balcony accessed by a sliding door. An ensuite bathroom, with a rain shower, hot tub and a warming cabinet for towels was on one side and on the other side there were dual sinks and a huge mirror covering the total wall above the sinks and cabinets. The decor was in a soft blue that really set the room off. Going through to the second bedroom, I noticed it was a little smaller, but the same window treatment. I needed to install a hot tub on that balcony. The roof of the house extended over the balcony providing shade and some cover during rain.

Really excited now, I went down stairs to the great room. To the left was the kitchen and to the left of the kitchen was the pantry, to the right, the dining room. Walking back into the great room, I noticed a huge fireplace sharing the same wall as the kitchen. Across from the fireplace was a small bedroom, a bath room with a shower and a room that could be used as an office. The front of the great room was a glass wall, a sliding door led out to a patio. As I walked out on the patio, looking at the river flowing past, I knew I had arrived home. Here, my soul would be content.

Unpacking the boxes, making up the new king size bed, turning on the freezer and refrigerator, I sat down and called Cody. "Cody, you’re going to love this place. How much time will you be able to stay in Clarion? You must see this place."

After talking to Cody, I drove to town to do a little grocery shopping and to have something to eat. I realized I needed to get kitchen ware, as well as additional bedroom linens. It’s going to take at least two days for me to do all of my shopping. If Cody could stay a few days it would help.

The next morning I called Charles telling him I’m delighted with the house. He gave me Mr. Haas's phone number. I asked him to pull together a cost sheet on the project so I could balance out my accounts. He said he would do that and email it to me when it was complete. Thanking him for a great job, we said good bye.